She looked at him challengingry, but with a little less belligerence, he thought. “You make such a big deal out of it. He was just another petty despot.”
Just another petty despot! Michael shuddered. He’d read the madman’s book. It was fortunate King Yampolsky XIX had recognized the danger and mobilized the armed forces early. The French, English, Americans, and others showed no inclination to fight, despite the madman’s avowed intentions.
Six long months of war. But the madman had been killed and a form of democratic monarchism patterned on the Republic had been established in Germany, with that popular war hero—what was his name?—oh yes, Goering, elected first King. Germany had been well-behaved ever since.
It was the establishment of the Polish form of government hi Germany that really irked the Americans, though. But the Germans had had all examples to choose from and had chosen the best.
“Dana, this tantrum of yours is understandable, I suppose. An outsider could read all sorts of things into those loading specifications. But it’s not true, about Mars.”
“Is.”
Spoiled child. Typical adolescent American messiah complex. He stared hard at her and tried to sound solemn.
“I swear on my honor, Dana, that tomorrow’s launch
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has nothing whatsoever to do with claiming any planet or moon or setting up any base thereon. We haven’t done it on Luna . . . why should we do it on Mars? I’m just an engineer, Dana, I’m not involved with anything like your CIA.
“Why can’t you believe me when I swear that we’re only interested in preserving the peace of mankind— what peace there is in a world where the Japanese and Brazilians and the Semitic Union all have thermonuclear capability?